This weeks show is all about Smart Speakers in our homes: Google Home, Amazon Echo, and Home pod.

 I thought it would make it easier if I shared with folks my podcasting notes that I will be using when I do my demos on Google Home and the Amazon Echo Dot.

 

Google Home

 Google Home is the first Smart speaker to be officially available in Australia.

 

Physical description:

  mute on back of speaker to toggle mute microphone.  Uses dedicated charger rather than micro usb cable (surprised).  Sound is very very base.  On touch surface of speaker: on left side draw half circle clockwise to increase volume and counter clockwise to decrease volume.  1 finger tap to stop or start audio.  1 finger press activate speaker without saying “hey google”. 

Turn Accessible sounds on for speaker listening within the Home app: i.e. after saying “Hey Google” will here traditional beeps to let you know that speaker is listening, say command, then beeps to let user know that speaker is processing command.

 

Setup the Google Home via the Home app on my Nexus 5 phone.  Downloaded the Google Home and followed the instructions to setup the Google Home Speaker: i.e. joining local network, choosing Google account to use with the device etc.

 

Google Home seems to have inbuilt functions called Actions.

Comes with a trial subscription to Youtube Red and Google music.

 

Some useful commands:

 

Translate “phrase’ in to another language - “Translate What is your name” to Italian”.  Doesn’t alway work.

What can I say.

What is the time.

When is Sun Rise.

When is Sunset.

What is the date.

What is the weather.

How long to get to work.

Turn it up or turn it down.

Roll a die.

Flip a coin.C

Where am I.

Set an alarm.

Cancel alarm.

Check alarm.

Snooze an alarm.

Set a timer (can do multiple timers).

Check timer.

Cancel Timer.

How do I make “dish name”.

Add “item” to shopping list.

Check shopping list.

Tell me a joke.

Tell me a knock knock joke.

Do calculations.

Convert measurements.

Open “6 Swords”.

Open  Blackjack 21.

Open the Christal ball”.

Open Eliza (very old AI conversation app).

Open “The Temple in the forest”.

Open the Magic Door”.

Give me a random number between x and y.

Sing me a song.

Sing happy birthday.

Check my Calendar (Google Calendar).

Tell me the news..

Play podcast xxx (seems to be from Tune-in).

Play chill out music (if Youtube default music player will play from source).  Can also say play  chill out on Google Play Music.

Play aBC radio (plays local ABC radio Sydney).

Play Album name or category.

Whilst playing music - what is this song.

Play 2gb radio (plays from iHeart radio).

How do you spell the word xxx and have it spelled.

What is the definition  of word and have it spoken.

Play Twit Live (plays on Tune-in).

What is the nearest restaurant.

What is the phone number for xxx restaurant.

No reminders or stop watch function.

 

Google Home app on iOS

Main screen can access:

Across top of screen: Menu button, Home title, and Devices button.

Menu button contains:

Signed in account name

Accounts button,

Close Menu button,

Google Assistant Heading

Things to Ask button,

Music button,

Home Control button,

More Settings button,

Devices button,

Account preferences button,

Offers button,

How to Cast button,

Google store button,

Help button,

Feedback button.

 

Below this - Listen and Discover tabs.

Listen tab appears to be App suggestions for use on iPhone.

Discover Tab - Voice Command History of your Activities button, heading